Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XVIII: The Charge · A.—Form of charges
Section 237: Words in charge taken in sense of law under which offence is punishable
In plain words
Words used in a charge to describe an offence are read in the meaning given to them by the law that makes the offence punishable.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
In every charge words used in describing an offence shall be deemed to have been used in the sense attached to them respectively by the law under which such offence is punishable.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 237
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.